Flow indicator



Nov. 27, 1945. L. DOLLINGER FLOW INDICATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1944 a M k 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. L. DOLL GER FLOW INDI TOR Nov. 27, 45.

Filed Feb. 1, 15544 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE OR'I 'zoll er BY r %is it? Patented Nov. 27, 1945 FLOW INnioAToR Lewis L. Dollinger, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Dollinger Corporation, Rochester, N. Y. a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1944, Serial No. 520,708

I 3 Claims.

This invention relates to flow indicators and the like.

It is frequently desirable to filter a fluid, such as air or liquid, passing through a duct, but after the lapse of time, the filter becomes choked with foreign matter so that the flow of the fluid tends to be greatly retarded. Where such a filteris introduced in one of the air pipes of a household heater or furnace, the user does not practice routine cleaning or renewal of the filter and since '10 the filter is usually out of sight, the user does not notice the restricted flow of hot air until the efficiency of the heating system is greatly reduced.

The present invention has as its main feature the provision of a simple, inexpensive indicator which shows the efiiciency of a filter as it drops from its maximum efiiciency to a minimum value where the filter unit should be cleaned or renewed.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the indicator is arranged for easy installation in a duct system without disassembling any part of" the system.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the indicator is so constructed that it can be quickly changed for use either in a vertical duct or in a horizontal duct, as conditions may demand.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the indicator of the 5 present invention mounted on a fragment of'a duct, a wall of which is broken away to indicate the location of a filter unit;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the present indicator mounted on a duct, especially indicating the position of movable indicator parts when no fluid is flowing through the duct;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, of the indicator mounted on a duct except that in this instance the indicator shows that fluid is flowing through the duct and that the filter is permitting its maximum ,flow therethrough;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view through the vane particularly illustrating how the vane is detachably mounted on its support;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the present indicator illustrated apart from the duct;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the bearing of the indicator;

Fig. 7 shows the mounting of the vane on its support for indicating vertical flow as distinguished from the mounting of this vane in Fig. 5 where it is adapted to indicate horizontal flow;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating how certain parts of the indicator can be modi thereto.

fied so that these parts can be adjusted to fit in ducts of various dimensions.

As shown especially in Fig. 1, the indicator, generally designated 5, is mounted on a side wall of a pipe or duct 6 through which a fluid, such as air or liquid, passes after flowing through a suitable filter I. It will be understood that as the filter 1 is used, it gradually becomes choked with foreign matter present in the fluid supplied Since this filter is located within the duct, it is usually in a position Where its condition cannot be readily observeds Therefore, the indicator 5 of this invention is provided to give an indication of the flow through the filter, which indication shows the condition of the filter. This indicator, as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,

- includes a bearing 9 which serves as a support for shaft It. A collar II, locked by'a set screw I2, on shaft I ll, limits endwise movement of the shaft in one direction with respect to the bearing. A similar collar I3, locked by a set screw I4 on the shaft, limits the movement of the shaft in the other direction. However, the shaft can rotate freely in the bearing. On the right hand end of the shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 5, there is adjust ably mounted a rod I5 which projects atright angles to the shaft, the parts being locked in adjusted position by set screw H. The lower portion I5a of this rod, which. is inclined atan angle of approximately degrees to the main portion thereof, supports a vane I6. This vane, as herein illustrated, comprises a disc bent along its diameter into two portions Ilia and llib inclined at an angle of 135 degrees with respect to each other so that the vane presents substantially equal effective areas irrespective of the amount that the vane has been rotated by the shaft Ill. The vane I6 is mounted on the support I5 in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 when the indicator is utilized in a horizontal duct. How'- ever, when the indicator is to be used in a vertical duct, the vane must be mounted on its support I5,

in the position shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that in both situations, namely with a horizontal duct and with a vertical duct, the vane I 6 is so mounted on the support I5, that the vane area Ilia normally extends perpendicular to the direction of flow through the duct. Since it is thus necessary to change the relation of the vane with respect to its support, the vane must be conveniently detachable therefrom. While various arrangements may be used for this purpose, it is herein illustrated that the vane is sprung on the support and therefore is frictionally retained thereon. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower or angular portion I5a of the support is inserted through the central opening I60 in the vane and also through the perforated up-turned lug l6d on the vane. These parts of the vane are so shaped that the rod portion I 5a is slightly sprung in mounting the vane thereon.

The previously mentioned collar l3 has secured to its front face; a disc l8 which therefore .extends at right angles to the shaft In. This .disc, -:at its upper part, carries an index or pointer l9 adapted to sweep over a, graduated scale plate suitably supported on a fixed part of the indicator. Since the indicator is to be used in various positions in a duct, the graduated scale on plate 20 .has zero in the center with other gradua'tions of "increasing value at each side thereof, terminating in the maximum value of one hundred. As herein illustrated, the plate 20 has "an opening therein through which a portion of the bearing .9 passes, While a lock nut 2| threaded on the bearing locks "this plate against the head :of the bearing. The collar 13, in addition to carrying thedise 48, :also carries a downwardly extending rod 22 threaded at its lower portion, :as indicated at -23, to receive the internally threaded weightior counterbalance :24.

Since the indicator must frequently be applied to a duct already inservice, should be pointed out how it can be readily mountedin the duct without id'iscomiecting any part :of the duct. It is merely necessary to cut arectangular opening 23 in a side wall of the duct, as best shown Figs. 2 and 3. opening is of convenient length to receive the shaft l-UWihhFfihE support lihind vane I 6 mounted thereon, while the width of the opening 'is such that the lock nut 21 ean'pass .ia'herethrough with mentioned parts iproilecting into "the duct, asjust nesnribed. The indicator can be fastened in position :by attaching the scale plate'lfl ltoth'e .sitle wall of'rthe duct as by screws 28.

In the modified form of the irwention illusizrated in Fig. 18, provision is made for adjusting the actuating parts :of the indicator :to operate in id-uctsof different cross secton. Tothis-endgthere istelescnpicazllymounted son the shaft l0,'a;s1eeve 53D arranged 7110 .be locked by the :set screw 35!, in various positions on the sha'fit. :In addition, the vane support I5 is adjustable lengthwise in a tubular member 32, the parts .being held "in :ad- :insted :position by .set screw The upper end ofmemher 32 isprovided'withafitting :31 through "which the :sleeve extends in a direction at right angles to the member 32. A set screw 35 locks these last-themed :parts in the position de- By this construction, :the indicator is .applicable etc a "wide range 'of duct :sizes.

In'the operation :ofthe indicator, the stream of filtered "will strike the faces zlfaa and 46b of the wane F3. fllhis vane, wthrough'its support I15, rotates the shaft :lll, which, in rotates the (disc ll'B and its indexer pointer is to the position shown in Fig. :3, as long as the filter is operating :atrizts rated efficiency. In ithe course of rose as the filter becomes zclogged :by foreign matter, it will tend to obstruct the flow of .fluid -'therethrough, which results in a :reduced velocity of the :current flowing through the 'duct. fionseguently, ;less forcewill be exerted iagainst'therfaces +61: and illib of the vane so that the index instead of pointing to graduation 100, as in Fig. 3, will point to some lesser value, for example, the right hand graduation 60 which may serve to indicate that the filter is so clogged with foreign matter that it should be cleaned or replaced. It will be understood that when no current is passing through the duct, the weight. tends .to hold the parts of the indicator in the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the index points to zero.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been discussed, it will be understood .that other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim .is:

1. In combination with a duct through which a stream of fluid is adapted to flow, a flow indi- 'cator comprising a rotatable member extending into the .duct, said member having a vane fixed thereon in angular relation thereto to extend into said :s'trnam, :said being :ben't medially thereof about an axis parallel to said member to provide two portions exposed to :said stream and inclined with respect to each other whereby the vane v.presents substantially equal reflective areas :to the stream irrespective :of the :amount that the vane has been rotated, and means for normally supporting one of said portions :in a plane substantially normal to the direction of flow :of the :stream.

2. In combination with :a duct through which .a stream of fluid is adapted to flow, a flow indi- :cator comprising a rotatable member extending into said duct, a supportcarried by :and projectdug-away from the portion of said member'within the duct, the projecting end portion of .said support being inclined withrespect to the remainder thereof, a vane having two surfaces inclined with respect to each other about an 'axis :parallel to .said member, said van-e being :detachably :posiv.tioned :on said support in ei-theraone :of two positions so that a surface thereof position is normal to the stream when indicator .-is \used in -a horizontal duct and also when the indicator is fused tin a vertical duct.

.3. In a flow indicator, a plate adapted to be fastened to the wall of a duct over anianening therein to close said opening, a tbearingtmounted on said plate, a shaft rotatable in said bearing (and adapted rto extend through :said opening, 'a support carried by and projecting :away from the portion of the shaft withinitheduct, the projecting end portion of said support being inclined with respect to the remainder thereof, a wane having two surfaces inclined with respect to :each other about an axis parallel $0 :said shaft, :said vane .being detachably positioned on said support in either one of two positions :so that a surf-ace thereof in its inactive .position :is normal to the stream when the indicator is .used .in a horizontal duct and also when .the indicator is .used .-in a vertical duct, the opening in said .duct being of a size to receive .sa'id vane therethrough in its mounted operative condition, .and an index secured to the other end of said shaft for movement relative to said plate.

LEWIS L. DOLLINGER. 

